WEATHERFORD, Okla. - Southwestern Oklahoma State University's upgrade of its football program shifted into high gear Wednesday with the announcement that 36 high school standouts signed National Letters of Intent with the Bulldogs. A total of 26 of the 36 signees are products from Oklahoma area high schools.
First-year coach Dan Cocannouer said he felt very good about the class as the Bulldogs begin a roster revitalization that promises to significantly improve fortunes for 2009 and beyond.
"These young men will give us a great foundation for our football program. Each one is of strong character and the type of person we want in our program for the next four years." Cocannouer said. "When people come to watch us, they will know we will play with pride and be proud to wear a Bulldog uniform."
Cocannouer, who took over at SWOSU on Jan. 1, felt that even with his reduced time frame to recruit, that this class meets or exceeds many of the most pressing needs for his 2009 football team.
"Recruiting is about building relationships with young men," Cocannouer said. "I didn't get to a chance to do that as much as I had hoped because of the late start. These kids are not here because of some slick sale job. We intend to be honest with these kids and let them know what our expectations are up front. All have agreed and are committed to making this work."
Cocannouer said some of the key areas were to find depth at quarterback behind senior-to-be-signal caller Steve Day and to bolster a linebacking corps that has graduated all-American Ruzell McCoy. Cocannouer said a few targeted areas remain and still additional players may be signed until the start of fall drills in August.
The following is a list of football players who have agreed to sign letters of intent at SWOSU.
Ryan John   QB  6-3  190  Lawton MacArthur Coach Ernie Manning
Led Class 5A in passing completing 224-of-353 passes for 3,107 yards and 27 touchdowns...District 5A-1 Quarterback-of-the-Year...Honorable mention all-state selection.
Houston Johnson  QB  6-0  190  Duncan Coach Jim Holloway
Run-pass threat who threw for 917 yards and 8 TD's...Carried the ball 101 times for 584 yards and seven TDs.
Matt Loehr   OL  6-5  285  Enid Coach Tommy Parker
Two-year starter for Class 6A playoff team at Enid
Andrew Brooks  OL  6-2  260  Brazosport, TX Coach Brian Welch
All-district selection...Father, Randy, played at SWOSU in the late 1970's.
Jordan Mitchell  WR  5-11  175  Edmond Santa Fe Coach Bruce Gowen
Starting wide receiver on Cocannouer's 6A semi-finals team at Edmond Santa Fe...Caught 38 passes for 450 yards and 5 TDs.
Timmy Winans  WR  6-0  180  Kingfisher Coach Jeff Myers
Honorable mention all-state selection...Caught 29 passes for 607 yards and 9 TD's despite missing last four games with injury.
Corbin Dickerson  WR  6-2  210  Altus Coach Lyn Hepner
Team's top receiver
Daniel Barwick  RB  5-9  175  Enid Coach Tommy Parker
Pass-catching back who finished the season with 104 carries for 933 yards and 9 TDs...Caught 33 passes for 475 yards and 3 TDs.
Bryce Moore   RB  5-6  165  Tuttle Coach Phillip Koons
Honorable mention all-state selection...Carried 118 times for 863 yards and 13 TDs
Barry Williams  DB  5-11  160  Lawton MacArthur Coach Ernie Manning
Played slot receiver and cornerback.
Michah Franklin  DB  6-0  190  Duncan Coach Jim Holloway
Played for former Bulldog Todd Hudson at Duncan
Nick Cartwright  DB  6-0  175  Mustang Coach Ty Prestidge
Finished 4th in 6A with 7 interceptions
Austin Major   DB  6-0  175  Chandler Coach Neil Bacon
Rushed for 1,102 yards on 150 carries and scored 13 TDs as a running back...Had 5 INT's.
Jesse Wright  DB  6-2  200  Aledo, TX  Coach Tim Buchannan
District 6-4A Defensive MVP...DFW Super Prep Team
Antuanya Debose  DL  6-3  215  Milwood Coach Tony Henry
Member of 2006 Class 2A State championship team
Cash Johnson  DL  6-2  235  Kingfisher Coach Jeff Myers
Will play in the Oklahoma All-State Game
Deonte Logan  DL  6-2  245  Frederick Coach Hugh Farmer
Selected to play in the Oklahoma All-State Game...Two-time state champion power lifter
Larry Wilson   LB  5-10  220  Mustang Coach Ty Pretidge
Honorable mention all-state selection...Led Class 6A in tackles with 165...Finished fourth in sacks with 12.
Zachary Godwin  LB  5-10  200  Elgin  Coach Curtis Lorah
Ranked in top 20 in Class 3A with 94 tackles...Defensive MVP of District 3A-1
Chance Tapia  DB  6-2  180  Lawton High Coach Randy Reeze
Had 4 interceptions as a senior...Could play linebacker
Josh Zimmer  LB  5-11  205  Washington Coach Dennis McCray
Honorable mention all-stater...Second-leading rusher in Class 2A rushing for 1,873 yards on 310 carries and scored 26 TD's...Will play linebacker in college.
Ryan Corbin  TE  6-5  240  Newcastle Coach Keith Bolles
Honorable mention all-stater...Caught 39 passes for 409 yards and 2 TD's for the Racers.
Colton Dickinson  LS  6-0  220  Tulsa Union Coach Kirk Fridrich
Played on Class 6A state championship team at Tulsa Union.
Brandon Johnson  LB 6-0 200  DeSoto, TX Coach Claude Mathis
Andrew Brooks OL Lake Jackson,TX
Dustin Stenta QB 6-0 190  Ft. Worth, TX Coach Bart Helsey
Chaz Mattocks OL 6-5 285 Newalla, OK Coach Eric Cardin
Ethan Elrod WR 6-2 185 Putnam City North Coach Bob Wilson
Austin Perdue OL 6-3 285 Wellston, OK Coach Lloyd Leep
Tyler Newman  WR  6-3 180 Elk City, OK Coach Dave Foster
Kalum Balluch OL 6-4 280 Carrollton Creekview, TX Coach Clint Hyde
First team all district lineman for Carrollton Creekview High. Can play a number of positions
Jordan Hinton DL 6-1  265 Lawton Eisenhower, OK  Coach Boone Copeland
Alton Gaines DB 5-10 185  Clarendon, TX Coach Gary Jack
Lloyd Shelton OLÂ 6-5Â 250Â Clarendon, TXÂ Coach Gary Jack
Karl Hodges RB 5-10 190 Life School Dallas, TX  Coach Jeff Reitz
Rushed for 1,100 yards and 13 TD's...Named to all-district first team.
Robert Garcia OL 6-4 300 Laredo Alexander, TX Coach Joel Lopez
First-team all-district selection...All-state academic pick
John Niutei OL 6-3 315  Jr.  Kilgore JC (Euless, TX)  Coach J.J. Eckert
